Parking brake actuator and control



Jam. 31, 1950 W. F. M SPARRAN, JR

PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR AND CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1949 Jan, 31, 11950 W. F McsPARRAN, JR

PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR AND CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1949 Jan. 31, 19% w. F. M SPARRAN, JR

PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR AND CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1949 Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED s'rA'res earanrorrics PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR AND CONTROL William F. McSparran, .lln, Kennett Square, Pa;

Application February 25, 1949, Serial No. 78,452

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel parking brake control and actuator for motor vehicles and has for its primary object to provide manually releasable gravity actuated means for applying and holding the parking brakes of a motor vehicle in an applied position thereby eliminating the possibility of the conventional latch on a motor vehicle hand brake inadvertently releasing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parking brake actuator which will automatically adjust itself to exert sufficient force for holding the parking brakes in substantially a locked position until the device is manually moved to a position for releasing the parking brakes.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a parking brake actuator which wil1 minimize the manual eifort required in actuating the parking brake and which will insure, whenever the brake actuating mechanism is released, that the brakes will be sufficiently applied to hold the vehicle even on very steep slopes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a positive parking brake control and actuator which may be quickly and easily mounted on motor vehicles to replace the manually actu- 1,5,

ated means conventionally used to apply the parking brakes and which may be readily substituted therefore on motor vehicles being manufactured.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of the chassis of a motor vehicle showing the parking brake actuator and control applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view there-- of taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in vertical section showing in detail the manually actuated means of the device, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for

the purpose of illustrating a preferred applica-' tion and use of the [parking brake actuatorand control, designated generally 8 and comprising the invention, a portion of the chassis of a motor vehicle is illustrated particularly in Figures 1 and 2 and is designated generally 9 and includes the longitudinally extending side sills or frame members Iii, the rear axle ll, rear wheels I2 equipped with conventional brakes, indicated generally at 53, the longitudinally extending propeller shaft housing M, the floor board I5 and dashboard IS. The brakes ii of the rear wheels I2 as is conventional also constitute the parking brakes of the vehicle 9 and which are actuated by a cable or flexible member H the ends of which extend into the housing of the brakes l3 and function in a conventional manner, not disclosed, for applying said brakes It when a pull is exerted on the ends of the cable or flexible member I! in a direction forwardl of the vehicle 9. The intermediate portion of the cable I1 is normally engaged by a link or other connection leading to the hand brake of the vehicle, not shown, but in lieu thereof the parking brake actuator and control 8 is provided with anelongated rod l8 which is preferably provided with an eye l9 at its rear end through which the intermediate portion of the cable l! slidably extends and by means of which the brake actuating cable I1 is connected to the actuator and control 8, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The actuator and control 8 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced cross beams which are supported at their ends fixedly on the sills l0 and which provide supports for a pair of longitudinally extending substantially parallel beams 2| which are secured thereto and which are spaced inwardly from the sills Ill. The beams 2! are preferably formed of angle iron and have rear portionsextending rearwardly beyond the rearmost cross member 2%. Apost 22 is fixed to and rises from each beam 2! near its forward end and between the cross beams 20. The posts 22 are provided with transversely aligned apertures 23 adjacent their upper ends for journal-- ing the end portions of a shaft 24 whichis pro vided with a downwardly ofiset intermediate portion forming a crank 25 to which a bar 25 is fixedly secured intermediate of its ends and with one end projecting upwardly with respect to the crank portion 25 and the other end extending downwardly therefrom, as clearly illus trated in Figures 2 and 3'. The shaft 24 is provided with a threaded portion 2'! between each of its journaled ends and the adjacent end of crank portion 25 and each of which threaded portions 2'l' has a nut 28 mounted thereon. The

nuts 2% are adjustable on the threaded portions 2? and are adapted to engage the adjacent sides of the posts 22 to prevent sliding movement of the shaft 24 relatively to said posts. Each of the threaded portions 2'? also carries a, pair or" clamping nuts as between which is clamped an end of an elongated arm 35 and which end is provided with an opening am through which the threaded portions 27 extend. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the arms exteridmearwardlyifrom the shaft 24 and are clamped to said shaft so as to be disposed at an angle of approximately 70 or 75 to the crank 25, as best seen in Figure 2. The arms 36, preferably adjacent :their rear sends, carry weights 3% which are detachably retained thereon by pins or other fasteningmeans '32 between which the weights=z3l aredispesed and which engage and preferably extend through said arms 30.

The link I8 is provided with an eye at its iforward aend which 1' is :connected '.'to .:a -swivel 33 which zexten'ds"rearwardlyfrom: a. clevis'l 3t. lhe ;clevis r3 3 is. pivotally connected .'by a pin or the like 1=35t0 :the upper end of. the bar "'25. A lever 35 sis. swingahly supported on the underside "of .the rear cross beam :20 by a fastening 35a for swinging movement insubstantially 'a' horizontal plane. .A: rod :or. link tlis connected by a clevis 38 at its. rear end to one' end of the: lever 3fi-an'd 'onfone'iside of the'rpivoti-tta'thereofand' said'rod 1 e3lis provided 'with clevis fis at'its opposite end" by which said I last 'mentione'd, forward end is pivotally connected to 'the' lower end or the bar 25. 'A'linklll is pivotally connectdatone :of its ends'lto the opposite end of the lever -36 :one of its endsatfiztoa corner of the. eri'dof the lever '45 located. adjacent .the pivot t6 "and has an arcuate portion extending from. its pivoteden'dand which extends around the ,pivot' 46 when theleverl iiisin. itsrposition .of vFigure 2. The opposite end of the wired I proiects from the last mentioned 7 end .of the flexible .tube M and: is fastened to the opposite, rfreetend of the yoke ts, as best. seeninEigure. 2.

A..post :58 is securedto vandrrisesirorn .oneoof the-longitudinal..beams,42I and a corresponding postll issecured toandrisesfrom the -.rear cross bearnfid. The posts 55land5l aredisposed in transverse alignment .andadjacent .to land on corresponding.sidesof the; arms QM) and are positioned .with their ..p1anes transversely .of "the vehicle chassis .9. A pair ,.of..latch.-.members1-52 and 53ers pivotally-supported: on the-treartsides ofthe. posts. team 5 l respectively, as 'best seen in. Figure 4 -by= pivot pins .54 "which engage :;the lower portion of said latch. members 52-and @53. The. latch members-52 land. 53 --.are provided :with corresponding upwardly facing; shoulders 55 on which thet arms .38 .are adapted-to :rest for sun- The housing "42 latch "members. .anchoredat-roneiend to the upper end of the post posts.59. andBl and the latchrnemberi 52 is provided at its upper end with a'cross head 51 the inner end of which is connected to the upper end of the latch member 53 by a rod or link 58 whichiis,rprcrvicledzwith clevises 59 at the ends thereof which are pivotally connected to the A contractile spring 66 is 5| and has its opposite end connected to a de pending projection 6! of the link 58 for urging said link from right to left as seen in Figure 4 for :eausingzthe latch members :52 :rand :53 F to be rockedrtoi the f left, :as TSQBXI in Figure *4, :or :into position; forpositioning thezshoulders 55 thereof for engagement beneath zthe wweight supporting 'ar1nsii30.

A "cable :of .flex'ible zmember 252 is :selectively connected to ODETGf-Jfis plurality .of openings 5 3:. in the outer endwof the cross headl iil and 'extends downwardly ithGl'fIOIl'l. and around -the under side of a pulley Etax which is supported ion an arm fid which rises 'fromi-the xa'djacentbeam'iz =As seen in "Figuresil and 2, *the flexible member' onca'ble 52 exten'ds forwardly from the pulley 63a reciprocally through a flexible tube orhous- 'ing 5 5 vvhi'ch extends f-orwa-r'dly and "upwardly through-an opening 65 in the upwardly inclined fioor'board'portion and their-around and overiithe lever fld -as'seen in Figures- 2 and 5. "The tubular "housing 65 is supportedat-a plurality of points by clamps Sl'whicharefastene'd to the chassis and floor board. "The opposite end *ofthe' cable extends from the opposite 'end of the flexible tubing 65andis pivotally connectedto an arm 68* which "projects from the pivoted end 69 of a small *lever 10 which is 'pivotally mounted on thellever =adjacent the end thereof which is remote to"'the pivot56. Aspring 'Tl'of the expansion'type-which' isdisposed between the levers 45and Hi urges said lever 15 outwardly "relatively:to'tthe' lever45 and .so' as'to .cause' the lever "miandiitsarmta,to'rock in..a direction to slack off the tensiononlthe ,cable '62.

Assuming the partstoberdisposed in thellposh .tions .asillustrated inlFigurel-2, when the...ar2ns 3 0tarepthusisuppcrted onthe shoulders. 55. of. the latch members and A5 5.the ,.parking:l: rakeis in ...a r released positiontso thatthe vehicle be..driven. .Inorder to e nly the Parking-brakes, the operator of the vehicl rasps the lower-rend .oi .the ..lever ".45, as. seen i111 :Figure together with-the lever ii}, which; levers are. disposed; in a position convenient to the vehicle perator,-.and by gripping the levers and Hi, said lever :Hi

" will the rocked counterclockwise :on s pivot for exerting a pull on theccable fizrsovas toz-rocf: theilatchimembers v52 and-53 'inna clockwise-di rectione-asseerr in.;-liigure-: -l:1for movingthe shoulders :thereof 1011b ;of :engagement with the weight :carrrdngar-ms 3153. -When this eccursythe arms. 38= willzswing dewnwardlyand atthsssame time that the levers t5 and l llzar t'gripped, the lever A 5 is 'ssw-ung :in ;.cour1ter.clockwise :.direc- .tion 1 on its pivot -45 ascseenf inli'Figures 2 xand' 5;

from: itSiflfllS. line: to its dotted .linerpositionsosas to slack off the flexible member or wire Al to "permit the lever 36 to rock counterclockwise as seen in Figures 1 and 6 as a pull is exerted on the link 31 in a forward direction by the downward swinging movement of the weighted arms 36 and which causes the shaft 24 to turn in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, and which will cause its crank 25 to swing downwardly and forwardly to also exert a pull on the link l8 to thereby exert a forward pull on the end of the parking brake cable I! for applying the parking brakes of the vehicle. The extent of downward swinging movement of the arms 30 is relatively slight as if they swing through an arc of from 10 to this is normally sufiicient to apply and substantially lock the parking brakes. Accordingly, the crank will ordinarily not swing downwardly and forwardly from its position of Figure 2 to a point beyond a bottom dead center position. It will be noted that the crank 25 additionally forms an offset for accommodating the propeller shaft and its housing 14. The weights 3! are suficient to hold the parking brakes applied with suflicient force to prevent the wheels I 2 from turning even if the vehicle is parked on a very steep slope and will effectively function to prevent the vehicle from being started and moved without releasing the brakes thereby eliminating the possibilit of the vehicle being driven with the parking brakes applied. Furthermore, very little short is required to release or apply the parking brakes so that the lever 5-5 can be easily operated by any one capable of driving a vehicle. Furthermore, it will be readily obvious that the arms may b made in various lengths and weights 3! of various sizes may be employed and may be mounted at various positions along said arms to exert sufficient force on the shaft 24 for effectively applying the parking brakes to any motor vehicle including heavy trucks.

To release the parking brakes the lever 45, in its dotted line position of Figure 5, is grasped by its smaller end and swung downwardly and rearwardly in a clockwise direction from its dotted line to its full line position and without gripping the lever 'lll so that a pull will be exerted on the lever 36 through the link 40 and the flexible member M for swinging the shaft 25 clockwise as seen in Figure 2 so that the arms 30 will be swung upwardly to and slightly beyond their positions of Figures 2 and 4. As the arms 3%! move upwardly they will engage the in clined edges 55 of the latch members 52 and 53 to cause said latch members to rock clockwise as seen in Figure 4 to permit the arms 30 to pass upwardly and to above the shoulders 55 after which the spring 60 will rock-the latch members 52 and 53 counterclockwise into their positions of Figure 4 for positioning the shoulders -55 beneath the arms 30 and so that said weighted arms will be supported thereon. It will be noted that as the lever approaches its full line position of Figure 5, moving from its dotted line position, that the pivot ts will move across a line forming an extension of a line between the end of the wire 4| which is connected to the yoke 48 and the pivot 45 so that even if the latch members 52 and 53 are inadvertently released the arms 3!] will be held in raised positions due to the fact that the pull exerted thereby on the wire 4| will not move the pivot point 49 back across an extension of a line from the wire 4] through the pivot 46 without the operator manually engaging and initially swinging the lever 45 slightly in a counterclockwise direction from its full line position of Fig ures 2 and 5. Likewise, the spring H will normally hold the lever it! in a position so that the latch members 52 and 53 will be ordinarily held in their operative positions of Figure 4 by the spring 60. As seen in Figures 2 and 5, the end of the bracket 4'! to which the lever 45 is connected is laterally offset with respect to the other end thereof so that the tapered end of the lever 45 can be grasped and swun past the bracket 41.

It is to be understood that the parking brake actuator and control has been illustrated and described in conjunction with only one type of conventional vehicle parking brake and that said apparatus is equally adapted for use with parking brakes of the conventional type operating on the transmission or propeller shaft and in which case one end of the cable I! would be attached to the actuator of this parking brake and the other, forward end of the cable or flexible member I! would be secured to the eye H) of the link i8. Various other modifications and changes ar likewise contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A parking brake actuator and control comprising, in combination with a motor vehicle having a parking brake cable connected at its ends to the brakes of the rear wheels of a vehicle and extending forwardly therefrom, a shaft journaled on an axis disposed transversely of the vehicle and supported thereby, said shaft having a. crank portion normally disposed to extend in a downward direction, a linkage means connecting said crank to the intermediate portion of the parking brake cable, at least one weighted arm fixed to and extending rearwardly from the shaft and disposed at an angle to the crank, said weighted arm being urged downwardly by gravity to rotate the shaft in a direction for swinging the crank forwardly of the vehicle to cause the linkage means to exert a pull on the parking brake cable for applying the parking brakes, and manually actuated means including a manually actuated lever disposed to be engaged and actuated by the vehicleoperator for rotating the shaft in the other direct on to swing the weighted arm upwardly and to displace the linkage means rearwardly for releasing the pull exerted thereby on the parking brake cable, said manually actuated means including a rigid member pivotally connected to said lever and having its pivot disposed for movement across a line forming a dead center of the level pivot when said manually actuated lever is moved manually to a position for releasing the parking brake cable, and to provide a means for automatically retaining the weighted arm in a raised, parking brake releasing position.

2. A parking brake actuator and control comprising, in combination with a motor vehicle having a parking brake cable connected at its ends to the brakes of the rear wheels of a vehicle and extending forwardly therefrom, a shaft journaled on an ax s disposed transverselv of the vehicle and supported thereby, said shaft having a crank portion normally disposed to extend in a downward direction, a linkage means connecting said crank to the intermediate portion of the parking brake cable, at least one weighted arm fixed to and extending rearwardly from the shaft and disposed at an angle to the crank, said mangoes weightedlarm. beingiurgeotdownwardlyobyggravity to:rotate;.the..shaft.in ardirection forlswinging. the crank fcrwardly..:of the; vehicleto cause'the :linkage means. toexertr a. pullccn' the parking brake cablefor rapplyin-g the parking zbrakes,:.manually actuated means. including a; manually. actuated lever disposed: totbeengaged andactuated by. the Vehicle operator -for rotating the: shaft: in 2' the other direction to sw-ingsthe Weighted arm llpwardlyeandr to. displace .the; linkage. meansfrearward-1y; for; releasing .ithe pull; exerted therebyon the parkingbrakercable, and; a pivotal-lymounted latch-i-mem'eersupported :on the vehicle 1 i or .engaging under .and releasably isupporting the weighted arm in an elevated. brake; releasingpw sition, rand .mannaljly actuated latch releasing means. associated with said. manually :actuated lever. for swinging: the. latch member. to a released position tent of engagement with -the weighted arm.

:3. .-A:..parking. brake actuator-.andcontrol comprising, .in -.combina.ticn with .a .motor vehicle having -a parking rbrake cable connected .at its ends to. thexbrakes of the. rearwheels of. a vehicle andzextending; forwardly.therefrom,=a shaft journa-led-cn z-Etn .-axis-.disposed .transverselyoof the Vehicle and supported thereby-said shaft. having a crank portion normally .disposedotoextenda-in a .downward..direction,..azlinkage. meanscon-necting said crank to. the. intermediate..portionl of the parking. brake.v cable-at least; one weightedlarm fixed to and extendinglrearwardlyfrom theshaft and disposed rattan angle .to .the crank, .said weightedarmbeinglurged downwardly. by gravity to rotate the shaftin-adirection for-swinging the .crank. forwardly-.015. the vehicle to cause .the linkaeemeans.toexert a pull .on the .parking brakecable for applying. the parking-brakes, and manually .-..actuated means including-a manually actuated leverrdisposedto be engaged and actuated by lthe vehicle ,opelator for rotating the shaftin theotherdirection to swing the weighted armlupwardly and todisplacethe linkage means rearwardly for releasing the pull .exerted'thereby on. theh parking ..brake cable a pivotally. mounted latch .member. supporteduon .the vehicle .for. engaging -under and .releasably supporting the Weighted arm in an .elevatedbrake releasin position, manually-actimted. latch releasing. means associated withosaid manuallyractuated lever .ior swinging. the latch. member. to a released position outs-of :engagement with the weighted: arm,-..and spring .rneansior, normally .retaining ssaidllatch member. iii-an operative, position.

.4. A parking. .brake actuator: and. control .cem- 1 prising, in combination with .-.a rector vehicle having .a parking obrake ,.-cab1e connected at its endstothe vbrakesof the rearlwheelsuof avehicle and extendingforwardly therefrom, ashaft journaled on .an axis disposed transversely .of the vehiclerandsupportedthereby,..said shaft-having a crank portion normally disposed to extendin adownwarddirectionsalinkage means connecting :said crank to the. intermediaterporticn of ."the parking. brake .cable, at least one i weighted .arm fixedzto and extending. rearwardlyfrom theshaft and disposed at .an .angle .to .the...crank, ...said.

weighted armbeing rurgeddownwardlylby, gravity torotate. the shaft inadirectionior swinging. the

crank forwardlyroftthe vehicletorcauseatheilmke agezmeanstouexert a; pullon. the, parkin-gsbraim cablezforapplying the parkingbrakes andfmanuallyactuated meansincludinga manuallyzactuated lever disposed to be enga ed-n and actuated by :the vehicle: operator .for .rotating the shaft in the other. direction; to. swing theweightedarm upwardly. andtodisplace the linkage means'rea-rwardlyfor releasing the pullexerted therebyon the parking brake -'.cable, :a ,pivotally .mounted latch member supporting: the-weighted 'armrin an 1 elevated, :brakerreleasing position, ...manual1y actuated-latch.-. releasing means associated with said manually .actuated lever for swing ng "zthe ,latchmember to. as released "position rout; oft-engagement 1 with the Weighted narm, and spring meanszfor. normally retainingesaid; latch .member an operative position; said. latch memberhavingsa .cam.-surface-disposedto be enga ed by the weighted .arm, when swung upwardly, -.f0r; initial-ly. retracting. therlatch.memben-to. vp ermitt-the arm to move to a position to be engaged supported by the-latch member.

. 5.. .A. parking brake 1 actuator and. control. comprising, .in combination with ..a. motor vehicle having. a parking. brake, linkage meansconnected toand extending: forwardly therefromnforlapply ing theparking brake when -..a. forward pullsis exerted .on. said linkage means, means: mounted for forward .and rearward swinging movement with. respectto. theivehicle andvto .whichithelforward .end .of tsaidllinkage. means .is. connected, and a weighted arm.connected tosaiclswinging means and .actuated by gravity .fornormally causing .said swingably .-.mou-nted vmeans to .be swungforwar'dly for exerting a pull. on.tl1e.linkagev means. -for..applyin-g the. .parking brake, and manually actuated .means for swinging the weighted .arm .upwardly .to .a brake .releasing position.

'6. A parking brake actuator and controtcomprising, .in combination with a .rnotor vehicle having a parking.brake,..linkage means connected to and extending. forwardly. the1"efrom= for ..app1ying the parking Lbrake when. a .forwardpifll .is exerted on .said 1inkage..means,. means .mounted for forward and rearward swinging vmovement with respect to the vehicle and vto whichithe forward end of said linkage means. .is connected; and a weighted arm connected tosaidswinging means. and actuated by gravity ..for normally causing said swingably .mounted .means to .be swungi forwardly. for exerting .a pull. on. the. linkage means'for applying the parking brake, manually actuated, means for swinging the weighted armnpwardly to a brake releasing position,...an'd manually releasable springv projected latchmeans forreleasably supporting the weightedarminza raised position.

WILLIAM F. MCSPARRAN, JR.

EEFERENGES "CITED The following-reterences arezof record in the file ofrthisipatentz UNITED STATES PATENTS "2,007,593 vLBI'OWII o July. 9,-1935 vlName Brown Oct...1l,;l927 

